The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on July 9-11, 2018, a six-member Bay County jury found Andrew Allan Pace guilty as charged on all counts, including one count of Sexual Battery Under Specified Circumstances, one count of Sexual Battery with Certain Minors, and one count of False Imprisonment.
Evidence presented at trial showed that on May 20, 2016, Andrew Allan Pace invited the victim, a 16-year-old boy, to lunch before providing him with a shot of alcohol that left the victim incapacitated to resist Pace’s advances. The victim regained consciousness around 7:30 p.m. Pace had tied him to his bed and was raping him. The victim was able to break free from the restraints and fled Pace’s home into the arms of neighbors who called 9-1-1.
Bay County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene and immediately began an investigation that led to the arrest of Pace on May 21, 2016. Neighbors testified the victim came running from Pace’s house, naked, terrified and in pain, begging for them to hide him from the man in the white Lincoln. DNA evidence corroborated the victim’s testimony.
The jury deliberated for a little over two hours before returning a verdict of guilty as charged on all counts. Circuit Judge Allen Register will sentence Pace on August 7, 2018. Pace is facing up to life in prison and will be designated a sexual predator. Assistant State Attorneys Jennifer Hawkins and Alyssa Yarbrough prosecuted the case with the help of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
For additional information, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.